"You shouldn't judge me just because of what I look like! It isn't fair, I have just as many feelings as all of you! Please, just leave me alone!"

Prologue

Nothing but darkness and silence, that is all I have known since my soul has ever existed in this domain. I know I haven't been anywhere for long at all, but frankly, I need to get out of this place as soon as I can. The tranquility of this dark, wet world is growing unbearable, and I can't help but kick my back leg impatiently on the lining of the sac, having it bounce back towards me quickly. Whatever this place is, I think to myself, turning in the tight watery ball, it's gotten really cramped.

I feel wriggle beside me, which I quickly recognize as another kit's movement. Maybe it feels just as cooped up as I do, and maybe it wants to get out too, with a dream to have its freedom. I stay still, letting myself float in the gel-like substance surrounding me, and I slowly let myself drift back into sleep, which is all I've been doing for a long long time, but no matter what how still I stay I can't fall asleep. There seems to be a disturbance all around me, everything feels… tighter than usual. The kit beside me is still too, and I wonder if it feels the same- or if it's just asleep.

There is a long, suspenseful stillness all around us, and I suddenly feel myself start to shake with a ripple erupting everywhere around me. I feel the other kit move from my side, leaving into a new void and creating a new emptiness. I start to wonder if this is the end, if this was my entire sad life. This other kit and I, do we get nothing? There is a brief stillness, but then another ripple pushes at me. I find myself moving, as I'm being squeezed through a tunnel into the same void the other kit went into. I brace myself for an end, when suddenly, the pressure lightens up on me.

Am I dead? I wonder briefly, though I don't have a real clue of what's going on right now, for I can only feel around myself. The slippery walls of my sac split open from underneath me, and I feel myself tumble into the a world. I gurgle as I feel a damp, bristly touch on my fur, whipping it up the wrong way. I decide to show my strength to whatever is trying to harass me, and I let out a mewl of protest. The strokes stop and I am lifted off the ground by the scruff of my neck. I mewl again, this time louder and even more powerful. I'm dropped near a new feeling of familiar warmth, and I relax in serenity. Whatever this big shape of fur is, it feels like I've known it before somehow, and I feel perfectly safe around it.

Sounds and voices come from all around, but I can't understand any of them. I turn to my side, soon aware of another kit next to me. I recognize this kit as the one who was trapped with me before, and I already seem to have a close bond with her. A bond that is unbreakable.

A new feeling stirs up in my belly, and I can't stop another sound from coming out of me. For a while nothing else happens, but then the other kit mews hungrily and a fluffy rope brings us both closer to the furless part of the shape we are near. A tempting scent comes from a bump on the skin, and I latch my mouth onto it and begin to suckle. Milk comes from the bump and I drink it greedily, pulling at it to get as much of the delicious liquid as I possibly can.

The other kitten is beside me, drinking away, and I sip the milk with her. The kit soon falls from the belly and slows her breaths sleepily, but I'm still hungry, so I continue to drink. Before I can get enough I'm forced off the bump, and curled around by the big cat.

Mother, a voice says in my head, Sister.

So that's who they are, my mother and sister. I don't know how I know what they are, but I do, so I decide to give into whatever my kin wants. I slow my breathing just like my sister did, and I fall asleep beside her, my thoughts growing peaceful and sedative.

…

"They're so cute!"

"Well not exactly the gray one, but the black one definitely is!"

"I know, she's the cutest thing I've ever seen!"

I purr as many of my friends and kin compliment my new young babies. I couldn't agree more that they are adorable, but in a way, something about the gray kit is kind of unappealing. I suppose if you get past the flat, crooked face that she is pretty cute, but the other kit is absolutely perfect.

"My love," I hear the voice of my mate and leader, Darksky, as he comes into the nursery. "They're stunning."

I stare at him through gentle eyes, giving my paws a few laps. "They are beautiful, just like their father," I chirp, earning the loving sighs from cats around us. Darksky settles onto the ground beside my mossy heap, and gives the black kit a lap between the ears. "What do you want to name them?"

"I do like the name Shade for the black one, do you?"

"It's perfect," He smiles, "But what about that gray one? Crooked? I mean, she is kind of-"

"Of course not!" I exclaim, "That's a horrendous name, can't we just stick with something like Cinder?"

Darksky scowls, but his anger fades away in heartbeats. "Anything you want, my dear." He meows, "And I suppose I should let you rest now."

I nod, nuzzling his temple. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," He beams back at me before leaving the den, and I curl up to rest. Almost as soon as I shut my eyes, I fall asleep.

…

I wake in a foreign land, one I have never seen before. Turquoise waves of water lap at the sand ahead of it, and the water reflects the pool of stars overhead. I look around, noticing that this is exactly how the Band of Stars was described to me before. Is this what it looks like? And how was I chosen to come here?

"Greeting, Willowsong," I am snapped from my thoughts by a new voice, one soft and full of wisdom. I whirl around and dip my head to the ancestor, knowing I'm lucky enough to be in her presence. "What an honor," I mew formally, but the cat only chuckles.

"I do thank you for the greeting, but I'm here to deliver a message," The ancestor says, her eyes sparkling in a way that resembles the night sky.

"What?" I ask, "Like a prophecy?"

"No," The cat turns her head and smiles. "More like a warning."

I prod the ground with my paw. "Would you be kind enough as to tell me?"

"I won't leave you in suspense," She says. "Remember to not forget what's inside of a cat's heart. Don't mix up the bad and the good. Answers won't come to you, and for your own life you must never be swayed by the outside."

I tilt my head. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's for you to find out," the ancestor meows, and suddenly she turns, her pelt fading. I watch as she climbs up an invisible hill into the sky, and I do my best to bid my goodbye. Soon enough, the world around me begins to fade away as well. And with every second that passes by, I feel myself growing further and further away from this place, until it's nowhere at all.

…

I'm so happy I finally began this story. I've had this idea for a while now, but I think can finally put it into words now. Anyway, I know I'm not amazing at writing or anything like that just yet, but really, I'd really appreciate no flaming, it's kind of offensive when I try to write. For you guys I will do my best, and put 2,500 words or so into each chapter. I'm actually only in 7th grade, and it isn't like I'm professional, or anything. I'm also making up a chapter tradition now, where I will make a vote about some random topic for fun! If you review, not that you have to, I would like for you to give any advice if you are a more experienced writer thank I am. I would really, really, really appreciate it!

Anyway, here is my first vote!

Which would you like the warriors community to make more?

A 3D online warriors rpg, or a single movie of Into the Wild?

Review your answer, if you want to share! Thanks so much for reading!

~Echo